Expert: Karen Craft - 4/11/2008

Question
I have a kitten who I have been nursing for 15 days now.
I found her when she was about 1 week old. I took her to the vet 4 days ago and she got a clean bill of health.
However....She is not nursing as well as she did. She does not seem to be able to "grab on" as well and scratches my hands franticly. I tried a new bottle...I thought maybe the other was worn out..but no difference. She is drinking about
90cc's per day. Is that enough? I offer her the bottle every 3 hrs but she doesnt actually drink it until about every 6 hrs.(unlike before...every 3 hrs) I tried to give her KML from a saucer and wet food as well, but she wants NOTHING to do with either.
She also has not pooped in 2 days...is this normal??
HELP!

Answer
Hi Kristina,

First make the nipple opening larger for her. As they get older they can eat more and faster and the nipple openings are sometimes too small to keep up with the kit's demands. She should be eating about 8cc of formula,(Glop), per ounce of body weight. Or about 1/4 oz. per ounce of body weight. For 90 cc's worth she should be about 11 ounces. Make sure you are feeding her every 4-5 hours. Her needs change as they get older. I am attaching a link about the stages of kitten care. I personally wean kittens when they are 6 weeks old.

http://www.kittenrescue.org/handbook.htm

Kit's don't go every day. Two days is ok but if it goes further I would add more water to the formula and a couple of drops of mineral oil.This should help her go. You might have to give the kitten an enema if she is really blocked. Talk to your vet about that.

I am also attaching a recipe for something called Kitty Glop. This is my own formula. This stuff is great for feeding kits. I would mix it with the formula you are using and slowly transfer her over to this. Good luck.

Ciao, Karen

KITTY GLOP




INGREDIENTS:
1 can evaporated milk (not sweetened condensed)
2 tbsp. plain yogurt (not low or non fat)
2 tbsp. mayonnaise (real not light or No-Fat)
1 tbs. Karo Syrup (light)
1 pkg. Knox gelatin
1 egg yolk (beaten, )
1 cup Pedialyte (unflavored)
1- 2 jars Stage One Baby food (chicken or turkey)

INSTRUCTIONS:
Mix milk, yogurt, mayonnaise, baby food, and syrup together well. Bring 1 cup pedialyte to boil and mix in Knox gelatin. Set aside. Mix egg yolk with small amount of milk mixture and beat well.

Add gelatin and pedialyte to milk mixture and beat well. Add in egg yolk mixture and beat well. Remember to not use egg substitute and keep egg white to a minimum.

Pour into bowl (with cover) and set in refrigerator. Glop will last for two weeks covered in refrigerator. Try freezing the mixture in ice cube trays and store the cubes in the freezer, thaw as many as needed.
Always warm glop to room temperature ,(milk form), or a little warmer, before feeding.